Governor's rhetoric blurs facts on energy efficiency

Governor's rhetoric blurs facts on energy efficiency Fortunat Mueller - co-founder - ReVision Energy - North Yarmouth

“In recent news coverage of Gov. Paul LePage's comments at the MEREDA conference about the proposed people's initiative on energy efficiency and renewable energy, it was reported: "Pointing to the incandescent chandeliers in the Holiday Inn By the Bay, LePage said the light bulbs give off heat, and if they were replaced by energy-efficient lighting, it would take more oil to warm the space."

| This sounds out of context though maybe not politically correct- I don't have any chandeliers in my home. but, I know some people do. And, more energy efficient lighting is getting less expensive to buy.|

“The governor's rhetoric against this people's referendum has consistently been recklessly misleading or frighteningly ignorant and sometimes both.”

| not misleading or frighteningly ignorant. Hard to listern to sometimes, when he's talking about major issues. Nobody has before. They were all interested in lining their pockets before considering Mainers. As for “... this people's referendum...” it is better referred to as the “wind energy's referendum.”|

“As the Legislature and the people of Maine debate these important questions, they deserve a more thoughtful discourse.”

| “Thoughtful” or not twisting the truth into polically correct and dishonest discourse |

“We need to push back against the knee-jerk reaction of the entrenched interests and the status quo, and instead consider the facts.”

|Facts seem to be getting addressed and entrenched interests don't like it|

“Every major study conducted on the question has consistently found that sensible and cost-effective investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy will result in a net increase in jobs for Maine, as well as a reduction in the energy costs over the long term.”

|This is one of those entrenched bold faced lies of the wind industry. Industrial turbines are NOT sensible or cost-effective and that is not an opinion, that is established fact! |“Just as I am sure most Mainers understand that chandeliers are not heating systems, I am confident that in spite of the false rhetoric, the vast majority of Maine voters are smart enough to understand this basic equation:

Using less energy, especially of the finite and heavily polluting kind, and using more that is local and sustainable will result in lower costs and higher quality of life for all of us.”

| Are you saying that if people understand that chandeliers are not for heating then they understand that industrial turbines (made in China etc.) are sustainable and will lower costs and provide a higher quality of life? Well, the wind may be free but the turbines are so costly they are unsustainable. They require too much of taxpayer subsidy and drive up the cost of electricity. |

“That's just common sense. Thousands of Maine homes and businesses have already invested in efficiency upgrades and renewable energy systems and are reaping the benefits of greater comfort, lower costs and lower environmental impacts as a result. It is time to do the same for the rest of the state.”

| What is common sense is that energy efficiency actions are very important, however, you lie about the advantages and disadvantages of propping up the wind industry with taxpayer subsidies. |

|